Portable fire hydrant

Abstract

An improved portable fire hydrant that can operate a water main valve disposed within a water main to produce water for fighting a fire by rotating a valve stem coupled to the water main valve includes an extension through which water can flow when the fire hydrant is coupled to the water main. The portable fire hydrant may also include a sealing mechanism disposed on the extension that seals the portable fire hydrant to the water main. A valve operator may also be coupled to the portable fire hydrant and attached to a valve rod that extends down through the extension of the portable fire hydrant. Disposed on the end of the valve rod may be a coupling mechanism for coupling the valve operator to the water main valve. When the portable fire hydrant is attached to the water main, the valve operator of the portable fire hydrant is coupled to the water main valve so that manipulation of the valve operator will cause the water main valve to reposition. This enables fire fighting water to be provided from the water main to the portable fire hydrant. The fire hydrant may also have an aligning mechanism for properly aligning the hydrant with the water main, and an attaching mechanism for rigidly attaching the fire hydrant to the water main.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of coupling a portable fire hydrant to a water main that has a water main valve coupled to a valve stem, comprising: aligning an extension that forms at least part of a body of the portable fire hydrant with the water main;   attaching the portable fire hydrant to the water main by manipulating a valve operator, disposed on the extension, and thereby causing an attaching mechanism, disposed on the extension, to attach the portable fire hydrant to the water main; and   coupling the valve operator to the valve stem and thereby coupling the valve operator to the water main valve, so that manipulation of the valve operator causes operation of the water main valve.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sealing the portable fire hydrant to the water main. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2, wherein sealing comprises sliding the extension into the water main so that a seal is created between the extension and the water main. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3, wherein the seal is created between an elastomeric material running around a periphery of the extension and the water main. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1, wherein the attaching mechanism comprises a plurality of spring loaded members disposed on the extension that are spring loaded towards an interior of the extension and that can be pushed towards the exterior of the extension in response to manipulation of the valve operator and inserted into apertures in the water main. 
     
     
       6. A method of coupling a portable fire hydrant to a water main that has a water main valve coupled to a valve stem, comprising: aligning an extension that forms at least part of a body of the portable fire hydrant with the water main; and   mechanically connecting a valve operator, disposed on the extension, to the valve stem and thereby mechanically connecting the valve operator to the water main valve, so that manipulation of the valve operator causes operation of the water main valve.   
     
     
       7. The method of claim 6, further comprising sealing the portable fire hydrant to the water main. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7, wherein sealing comprises sliding the extension into the water main so that a seal is created between the extension and the water main. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8, wherein the seal is created between an elastomeric material running around a periphery of the extension and the water main. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 6, further comprising attaching the extension of the fire hydrant to the water main. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10, wherein the portable fire hydrant further comprises a plurality of spring loaded members disposed on the extension that are spring loaded towards an interior of the extension and that can be pushed towards the exterior of the extension in response to manipulation of the valve operator and inserted into apertures in the water main and attaching further comprises manipulating the valve operator to push the spring loaded members so that they are pushed into corresponding apertures in the water main to thereby attach the fire hydrant to the water main. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 6, wherein the fire hydrant further comprises a rod coupled to the valve operator at a first end and to a cap at a second end, and mechanically connecting comprises connecting the cap to the valve stem of the water main, so that manipulation of the valve operator will manipulate the rod and the cap and thereby manipulate the valve stem and the valve operator. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12, wherein the manipulation of the valve operator comprises rotating the valve operator. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 6, wherein the manipulation of the valve operator comprises rotating the valve operator. 
     
     
       15. A method of coupling a portable fire hydrant to a water main that has a water main valve coupled to a valve stem, comprising: aligning an extension that forms at least part of a body of the portable fire hydrant with the water main;   inserting the extension into the water main;   mechanically connecting a valve operator, disposed on the extension, to the valve stem and thereby mechanically connecting the valve operator to the water main valve, so that manipulation of the valve operator causes operation of the water main valve; and   attaching the extension of the fire hydrant to the water main.   
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15, further comprising sealing the portable fire hydrant to the water main. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 15, wherein sealing comprises sliding the extension into the water main so that a seal is created between the extension and the water main. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17, wherein the seal is created between an elastomeric material running around a periphery of the extension and the water main. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 15, wherein the portable fire hydrant further comprises a plurality of spring loaded members disposed on the extension that are spring loaded towards an interior of the extension and that can be pushed towards the exterior of the extension in response to manipulation of the valve operator and inserted into apertures in the water main and attaching further comprises manipulating the valve operator to push the spring loaded members so that they are pushed into corresponding apertures in the water main to thereby attach the fire hydrant to the water main. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 15, wherein the fire hydrant further comprises a rod coupled to the valve operator at a first end and to a cap at a second end, and mechanically connecting comprises connecting the cap to the valve stem of the water main, so that manipulation of the valve operator will manipulate the rod and the cap and thereby manipulate the valve stem and the valve operator. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 20, wherein the manipulation of the valve operator comprises rotating the valve operator. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 15, wherein the manipulation of the valve operator comprises rotating the valve operator.